Thursday, January 28, 2010

Painted some pears the other day. Same pears, different time of day. The top pair had the cool light of a foggy day reflecting on the table top and back lighting the fruit. The second painted after the sun set, show the rosy side of the pears with a spotlight aimed upon them. The contrast between the two images reiterate the truth "timing is everything".

Sunday, January 17, 2010

We had a sunny day last week. Seems like it was the only this year. It was energizing and I ended up spending the day indoors painting. I did gather up some hose hips and privet berries from my yard for a still life. This winter bounty from my yard, inspired me with the blues and orange.

20" x 16" oil on canvas

It still looks a lot like Christmas around here. Probably the final Christmas painting of the season. I managed to get all three trees in this painting. I've done details of each already, glad to capture them together in there environment. The complexity of the trees is a challenge that I could go on painting, but by this time of year it seems an odd thing to do. The subject of the top painting is visible in this painting also. I did not have the lights on the tree in this painting, feels odd to light them the last few weeks. I have a few other paintings this size of interiors that I like this with. If I ever want to exhibit them together I need to be aware of the time of year. Christmas trees are much better in the latter pare of the year.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

This location is one I have painted many times. This painting from a photo I borrowed brought back so many memories of this vista, I felt I was there again. I took painting workshops in Carpintera over 15 years ago. I haven't been back since, but with a paintbrush in hand the terrain was very familiar.

18" x 36" oil; on canvas

This studio painting of the Santa Cruz lighthouse is also from photo reference. Not a vista I have painted before, it was more of a struggle to capture the feel of the place. I created more of a feeling of winter in this painting, taking more of a clue from the weather around me as I painting than the atmosphere of the day I took the photos.